[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 84 (Friday, June 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         50TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED STATES ARMY SPECIAL FORCES

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                               speech of

                          HON. GARY G. MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 2002

  Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate the 
50th anniversary of the United States Army Special Forces and honor a 
great American hero and ``Father of the Green Berets,'' Colonel Aaron 
Bank.
  Perhaps more than ever, our generation appreciates the unique and 
vital mission of the U.S. Special Forces. They are the elite, 
unconventional warfare arm of the United States military and our Nation 
is at a place in history where our greatest threat is from the 
unpredictable foes they are trained to fight.
  In a time when many of us have fears and doubts about the 
vulnerability of our Nation to future attacks, we can continue to have 
hope in the shield provided to us by the Special Forces. In valor, 
courage, and fidelity, the Special Forces are the world's finest 
fighting force and I am thankful that they are in the business of 
protecting the United States of America and its citizens.
  Due to the covert nature of many of their missions, both the measure 
of their sacrifice and their contribution to freedom here and abroad 
may never be known. However, today, I hope all Americans will join me 
in celebrating their 50th anniversary and thanking them for giving more 
to this country than could ever be repaid and perhaps, could ever be 
measured.
  I wish to especially extend my appreciation to Colonel Aaron Bank, 
the founder and first commander of the Special Forces. As an operative 
in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II, he led 
his team on missions to hunt down high-raking Nazi leaders, search for 
missing allied prisoners in Indochina and lead a counter-intelligence 
cell in Germany. It was clear there was a place for such operations 
using highly trained unconventional forces. So, when the OSS was 
disbanded after World War II, Colonel Bank began working to convince 
the U.S. Army to adopt a permanent unconventional warfare force. After 
tireless efforts, the U.S. Army launched its first Special Forces unit, 
the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) with Colonel Bank, 
appropriately, as its first commander.
  Since then, the U.S. Army Special Forces has spawned special 
operations units from the other military branches such as the Navy 
SEALS, Air Force Combat Controllers, and the Marines' Force Recon. We 
have Colonel Bank to thank for emphasizing the strategic and tactical 
importance of such units, which he modeled in designing, implementing 
and commanding the Army's first Special Forces unit.
  In passing H. Con. Res. 364, Congress not only recognizes the 50th 
anniversary of the Special Forces, but also acknowledges the invaluable 
contribution of a great American and outstanding soldier, Colonel Aaron 
Bank. At age ninety-nine, he is a living legend and I consider it an 
honor and privilege to participate in recognizing both his contribution 
and the legacy of his vision and foresight, the United States Special 
Forces.
  My most sincere gratitude goes out to Colonel Bank and his fellow 
Green Berets as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Army 
Special Forces.

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